820 CHARLES PAUL ALEXANDER 



V 



A species of crane-fly doubtfully referred to Dicranomyia pilipennis 

 Egg. (Schubart, 1854) has been found in ditch water in Holland. 



Dicranomyia umbrata de Meij., a Javan species, lives in the slimy green 

 algae floating in stagnant, as well as flowing, water. The pupae live in 

 cocoons in the algal sheath, with the cephalic end projecting. The larvae 

 are from 10 to 12 millimeters in length, cylindrical, about 0.6 millimeter 

 in diameter, and of a yellowish color. The head is almost entirely 

 retractile. The body is almost smooth, having only an inconspicuous 

 transverse welt on the sscond abdominal segment near the posterior 

 margin. The caudal end is somewhat enlarged and is truncated behind. 

 De Meij ere (1916:197-198) supplies a good description of the structure 

 of the larval head capsule. 



Dicranomyia foliocuniculator Swez., of the Hawaiian Islands, is the 

 only recorded leaf-mining crane-fly. It was found by Swezey mining 

 in the leaves of a species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) in the island of 

 Oahu. Pupation of the species takes place within .the mines (Swezey, 

 1913 and 1915). 



In North America a number of species are known. Dicranomyia 

 simulans has been ably discussed by Needham (1908 a: 214-217) and later 

 by Malloch (1915-17 b [1917]). This species is, for the most part, a 

 member of the hygropetric fauna, dwelling in usually lotic water where 

 it is associated with a characteristic rapid-stream fauna. Other con- 

 ditions under which the species is found are discussed later. D. badia 

 and D. siulta live in and under saturated moss cushions. D. macateei 

 Alex, has been bred from larvae in decaying wood (Dr. W. G. Dietz). 

 D. rara O. S. has been bred from larvae in a rotten willow, the larvae 

 being taken on Plummers Island, Maryland, by H. S. Barber on Octo- 

 ber 12, 1913, and emerging as adults on November 14. 



Dicranomyia simulans (Walk.) 



1848 Limnobia simulans Walk. List Dipt. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 45. 

 The best account of the life history of the common and widespread 

 Dicranomyia simulans is that by Needham (1908 a: 214-2 16), quoted 

 below : 



It is abundant on the piers along the west shore of Lake Michigan. . . . This pier 

 [at Lake Forest, Illinois] was built on heavy driven piling, covered outside with heavy plank. 

 About three feet of surface was exposed above the water at its normal stage. The planks 

 were old, and sheltered a scanty growth of short, stemmed mosses in the cracks, and bore 



